Debra Saunders/Animal rights

Text here at Debra Saunders/Animal rights is from the page Debra J. Saunders.

Conservative columnist Debra J. Saunders - whose husband Wesley J. Smith is "a senior fellow on animal-rights issues" at the Discovery Institute - has used her column to attack animal rights activism.

Center for Consumer Freedom & PETA
According to Debra Saunders:
 * "PETA prefers to spend donations, apparently, not caring for flesh and blood animals entrusted to it but on campaigns attacking medical researchers, meat-eaters or women wearing furs. It is as if PETA prefers the idea of animals to animals themselves. PETA's Web site spun the story under the banner, "PETA helping animals in North Carolina" with an emphasis on its efforts to "solve the animal overpopulation in North Carolina." Here's more: "PETA has provided euthanasia services to various counties in that state to prevent animals from being shot with a .22 behind a shed or gassed in windowless metal boxes -- both practices that were carried out until PETA volunteered to provide painless death for the animals." Make that painless deaths for animals that could have found love."

In this article, she cited David Martosko from the Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF), an industry funded front group:
 * "(David) Martosko hopes animal lovers will learn that their donations will do more good at a local animal shelter than at PETA. "For years," he added, "we thought that PETA just cared for animals more than they cared for humans. But now it seems they don't care much for either."

CCF sponsors have included Phillip Morris, Monsanto, Tyson Foods and Dean Foods; corporations with long histories of gross animal welfare violations, human rights, health and environmental abuses. See also Richard Berman cares about animals: clients exposed.

Gas chambers, euthanasia statistics & local services
Over 250,000 homeless animals are killed in North Carolina shelters annually. In NC, over 20 county shelters still use gas chambers and other inhumane methods.  Animals gasp for breath while they slowly suffocate. Witnesses have seen animals struggling and wailing for up to ten minutes before succumbing to carbon monoxide poisoning. In their panic, some bite themselves and each other and beat their heads against the walls while they choke and vomit. Groups of up to 25 animals are gassed together and some will not die the first time. Even low levels of carbon monoxide from malfunctioning gas chambers may cause health problems. A Tennessee shelter employee died from asphyxiation while unloading dogs from a gas chamber. At least 3 NC gas chambers have exploded and four government employees who operate gas chambers have died from heart and lung problems in recent years.

PETA provides free services to local animal shelters, constructs shelters and provides free local spay/neuter services. They also advocate for chained and "backyard dogs. They have spent over $300,000 on services to NC shelters in the past few years. See also PETA, sections 2 & 4.

Breeder, fur & agribusiness lobby & foie gras advocacy
According to Debra Saunders, animal activists who rescue and rehabilitate ducks are "zealots":


 * "Zealots from groups like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and Gourmet Cruelty contend that force-feeding ducks is cruel."

In this article, she cited Patti Strand, National Director of the National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA), a front group and industry funded lobbying organization for animal commerce and agriculture based in Portland, Oregon:


 * "People don't recognize that this is a war rather than a public relations event," noted Patti Strand of the National Animal Interest Alliance, an Oregon- based group that challenges animal rights extremists."

NAIA agendas include financial interests, legislation and public perception related to farm animal agribusiness, commercial breeding, hunting, fishing, trapping, fur ranching, animal testing, horse slaughter, rodeos, circuses and entertainment. For almost 20 years, Ms. Strand has lobbied against humane legislation for animals. See also NAIA, section 2.

Canada is responsible for 80 to 90 % of foie gras (fatty duck or goose liver), imported to the U.S. Ducks and geese are de-billed, detoed, and confined to filthy cages. They are force fed nutritionally incomplete gruel pumped down their throats through a metal pipe several times a day, causing bruising, lacerations and sometimes death. Force feeding creates a grossly over sized and diseased liver called foie gras. Ducks and geese spend their short lives gasping, regurgitating and struggling to move. See also animals raised & hunted for food.

The Fur Commission is a member of both D.I. and the NAIA.

Product (toxicity) testing & banker advocacy
Ms. Saunders has also defended Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS), a controversial company involved in animal testing. According to Debra Saunders:


 * "They're proud they terrorize families and destroy small businesses so that ducks can work out. Worst of all, they often succeed - because they'll harass anyone. British activists targeted Huntingdon Life Sciences, which produces animals for medical research, by harassing employees and shareholders of banks, auditors and insurers that did business with the multinational corporation."

Huntingdon Life Sciences & SHAC campaign
HLS is the 3rd largest contract research organization (CRO) in the world and the largest animal testing facility in Europe. Firms hire CROs to conduct toxicity animal testing for agrochemicals, petrochemicals, household products, pharmaceuticals and toxins. HLS has a long history of gross animal welfare violations. They are the only laboratory in the United Kingdom ever to have their license revoked by the government.

The Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) campaign was set up at the end of 1999 by a group of activists in the United Kingdom. SHAC has since become an international campaign. Groups in the UK, USA, France, Holland, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and other countries target HLS and global corporations that support them. See also Huntingdon Life Sciences, & animal testing, section 3 on product (toxicity) testing.

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Husband Wesley J. Smith
 * Animal activists who have been injured or killed
 * Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act
 * Criminalising civil disobedience
 * Conservatives target the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
 * Humane Movement
 * Intimidating democracy
 * Intimidating public interest groups
 * Propaganda techniques